The first post gives an overview of the tributaries from the source in Staffordshire to the Humber Estuary and further posts will give a collection of photographs for the individual tributaries including their tributaries.

Starting with the Staffordshire tributaries.

The Fowlea Brook flows trough Etruria to join the River Trent in Stoke

The Lyme Brook flows from Newcastle under Lyme to Trentham

The River Sow with its tributaries the River Penk and Meece Brook joins the River Trent at Shugborough, StaffordshireRiver Penk Meece Brook

The River Blithe joins the River Trent at King’s Bromley, Staffordshire

The River Swarbourn joins the River Trent north of Alrewas

The River Tame with its tributaries the River Rea, River Blythe and River Anker joins the River Trent at east of Alrewas, StaffordshireRiver Rea River Blythe River Anker

The River Blithe rises to the east of Stoke on Trent and flows south to join the River Trent near King's Bromley

The upper reaches and source are not photographed yet but starting for the moment at Cresswell.

The river passes through Blithfield Reservoir The reservoir opened in 1953 has a capacity of 18200 million litres providing drinking water to South Staffordshire and Walsall. 24 million litres of water are released as compensation flow downstream of the dam.

South of the reservoir to its confluence with the River Trent at Nethertown.Interestingly since the 1990s water has been pumped back from near the confluence with the Trent at Nethertown to Blithfield Reservoir to replenish the water levels in the reservoir.

The River Sow rises near Broughton, Staffordshire and flows southwest through Stafford to join the River Trent near Great Haywood, Staffordshire

The river flows through farmland feeding a number of mill pools to reach Cop Mere

The river is joined from the north by a major tributary the Meece Brook near Little Bridgford. The Meece Brook catchment lies to the west of Stone and Stoke.

Entering Stafford the river is joined by a second major tributary the River Penk. The River Penk catchment lies to the north and west of Wolverhampton. Below the confluence the river is prone to flooding.

The final section of river flows through farmland on the northern edge of Cannock Chase to Shugborough Hall and the confluence with the River Trent.

The Meece Brook, a tributary of the River Sow, rises near Millmeece and joins the River Sow near Little Bridgford.